Machine for metallurgical furnaces



July 6 1926. 1

' B. J. MULLEN T'APPING MACHINE FOR METALLURGICAL FURNACES FiledFebQ 26g1926 8 Sheets Sheet 1 .INVENTOR wmazsszs July 6 1.926. 1,591;048

L B. J. MULLEN TAPPING MACHINE F01} METALLURGICAL FURNACES Filed Feb.26, 1926 8 sheets shet 2 KNVENTCR WITNESSES 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb.26, 1926 INVENTOR July 6 1926.

5 E S 5 E N W w k Jul 6, 1926.

B. J. MULLEN TAPPING MACHINE, FOR METALLURGICAL FURNA CES Filed Feb. 26,1926' 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 HIIIIIII INVENTOR WITNESSES July 6', 1926.1,591,048

3. J. MULLEN I TAPPING MACHINE FOR METALLURGICAL FURNACES Filed Feb. 26,1926 a She ets She'et 5 EFF f.

will- INVENTOR wnuzsszs I July 6 1926.

B. J. MULLEN TAPPING MAGH INE FOR METALLURGICAL'FURNACES Filed Feb. 26,1926 s Shee'tS Sheet 6 rim WITNESSES July 6, 1926. 1,591,048

B. J. MULLEN I TAPPING MACHINE FOR METALLURGICAL FURNACES Filed Feb. 26,19,26 8 Sheets Sheet 7 wrmasszs I I mvzm-ofl Patented July 6, 1 926.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN J. MULLER, or COLUMBIANA, onro.

vrarrmo. mourns non mnrannunercar. rurmacns.

Application filed February 26, 1926. Serial No. 90,956.

In my United States Patents Nos. 1,276,251 and 1,276,252 there aredisclosed -mach1nes for tapping the iron notches of blast furnaces, andin the first of these patents there hearth and other metallurgicalfurnaces as well as of blast-furnaces. v

The object of the present invention is, generally stated, to improve theconstruction and consequent. operation of the machines shown in myearlier patents.

A specific object is to provide a machine the operation of which, afterhaving been :plac'ed'in notch-opening position, may be completelycontrolled at a safe distance from a furnace to perform an entiretapping operation, and which, after the tapping is-completed, may beremoved from its tapping position without the necessity of a workmangoing near the machine or furnace.

f A further specific object is to provide a machine in which theresistance to the tapping strokes of the machine is removed from itsfeed mechanism thereby eliminating wear upon such mechanism.

A further specific object is to improve the mechanism for supportingsuch machines and anchoring them during tapping operations, and toprovide mechanical means for releasing the anchoring mechanism at thecompletion of a tapping operation.

Still further specific objects are to elimi nafe wear between the movingparts of the tapping engine and their. supports, and to improvethemechanism for axially rotating a tapping drill or other tool.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Fig.1 is a side elevation of the machine in operative osition beside a blastfurnace, a portion 0 the furnace being shown in section; Fig. 2 a sideview of the machine to enlarge scale, a proshaft 0 tecting hood for themachine being partially removed and a portion of the frame of themachine being shown in section to more clearly illustrate theconstruction of certain parts of the machine; Fig. 3 a plan View of themachine as seen in Fig. 1 with the pro-' tecting hood entirely'removed;Fig. 4' a plan view to enlarge scale of mechanism for automaticallyrotating a tapping tool during a tapping operation; Fig.5 a side view ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 4'; Fig. 6 an elevation to enlarge scale ofmechanism for resisting the thrust of a tapping tool by the frame of themachine, F ig'. 7 a transverse sectional view taken on the line VIIVII,

Fig. 6; Fig. 8 a horizontal sectional view .taken on the line VIIIVIII,Fig. 7; Fig.

9 a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 10 adiagrammatic view showing the control mechanism of the machine; andFig.11 a plan view to enlarge scale of the top of an electric controllerused in the operation of the machine.

The main elements of my improved machine are the same as those ofthe-machines shown in my prior patents. In other words, thepresentmachine comprises an elongate frame having side members 1 and 2and end members 3 and 4, a reciprocating fluid pressure engine supportedon these side members and comprising a cylinder 5, piston rod 6 andcross head 7. To eliminate wearin cident to the movement of cylinder 5and cross head 7 upon the frame side members, these parts of the engineare preferably pro vided with rollers'8 which ride upon the tops ofinturned flanges of the frame side members. By so supporting the clinder and cross head any grit which may e deposited upon the flanges ofthe frame side members will not result in undue wear upon such membersand upon the parts of the cylinder and cross head which they support.

Cylinder 5 of the reciprocating engine is fed forwardly preferably bymeans of a reversin electric motor I0, the armature which may beprovided with a pinion 11 meshing witha gear 12 attached to a rotatablymounted feed screw 13 extend:

in-g downwardly from the lower side of cylinder 5, the arrangement-beingsuch that the operation of motor 10 in one direction or the other will,through the train of driving connections just explained, cause cylinder5 to move forwardly or rearwardly upon the frame side members of themachine. For operating the engine to effect a reciprocation of itspiston rod 6, pressure fluid such as compressed air or steam is led tothe machine through a flexible pipe 16 (Fig. 2) connected at the rearend of the machine to a pipe 17 which extends to the forward end I ofthe machine and is supported by transverse frame yokes 18 and 19. At itsforward end pipe 17 is connected to a pipe 20 telescopically connectedto a pipe 21 leading to the valve chest of the engine cylinder, thesepipe connections being such that as engine cylinder 5 is movedlongitudinally upon the frame motive fluid may be supplied to it at allof its positions. While the screw 13 is normally rotated by motor 10 tomove the engine, it may also be rotated by a hand crank 22 attached to arotatable shaft 23 (Fig. 3) having bevel pinion connections 24 with theforward end of the screw.

In the machine of each of my prior patents provision is made forattaching a drill rod to the cross head of the tapping engine fordrilling a notch nearly to the point of molten metal, and provision isfurther made for then substituting a tapping rod for the drill rod andusing the cross head of the engine for hammering the tapping rod. Thissubstitution wasmade primarily to provent the burning of drill rodsformed of expensive tool steel. In the use of those machines it has beenfound that the notches may be entirely opened by drill rods formed ofmetal which is no more expensive than that customarily used in themanufacture of tapping rods, and that therefore the burning of a drillis of no material consequence. Accordingly the present machine isconstructed for opening notches entirely by drill rods, although it willbe understood that the invention is not limited to machines whichoperate in this particular manner.

Referring again to the drawings, particularly Figs. 4 and 5, a drill rod25 is shown as being attached to a drill spindle 26 by a chuck 27attached to the end of the spindle which is rotatably mounted in crosshead 7. While any suitable form of chuck may be used, it mayconveniently consist of a collar provided with a set screw 28.

Provision is made for automatically rotating drill. spindle 26 upon eachreciprocationof piston rod 6 so that the drill rod attached to thespindle may be properly turned during a tapping'operation. For thispurpose spindle 26 has attached to it a bevel pinion 30 which mesheswith a bevel pinion 31 attached to a stub shaft 32 which is rotatablymounted in a bracket 33 projecting from the forward end of cross head 7The outer end of shaft 32 has keyed to it a ratchet wheel 34, andbetween such wheel.

and the side of bracket 33 there is rotatably mounted on shaft 32 an arm35 provided w1th a pawl 36 adzgated to engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel. The outer end of arm 35 is connected by a link 37 to cylinder 5so that upon each rearward movement of the cross head ratchet wheel 34is rotated to in turn rotate the drill through the connections justexplained. By this simple arrangement the drill rod may be rotated asmuch as 7 0 upon each reciprocation of the cross head, and such rotationeffectively prevents cornering of the drill during a tapping operation.

A further feature of my invention has to do with the provision of meansfor preventing undue wear upon feed screw 13 by reason of drillingimpact. To this end there is attached to cylinder 5 automaticallyoperated and controlled mechanism for firmly engaging the frame of themachine during the intervals between the forward feeding of cylinder 5to advance a drill rod in a notch being opened. While such mechanism maybe operated and controlled either electrically or pneumatically (itbeing understood that the machine requires electric current foroperating motor 10 and pressure fluid for operating the reciprocating,en.- gine), it is preferably operated by pressure fluid mechanism. Thismechanism preferably acts through a system of floating equalizing leversto operate clamps which engage the inturned flange of frame side members1 and 2.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6-9, the forward end of enginecylinder 5 has attached to it a bracket 45 on top of which there ismounted a small pressure fluid cylinder 46 provided with a piston 47connected to a rod 48 extending downwardly through the head of thecylinder. .As will presently appear, it requires but a slight movementof piston 47 to operate the framegripping clamps. This movement isoffected by pressure fluid led to cylinder 46 through a pipe 49.

Projecting forwardly from each side of bracket 45 there are bolts 50 and51 (Fig. 6) arranged one above and one below the inturned flange of aframe side member. Around each bolt 50 there is a bearing block 52, theinterior diameter of which is slightly larger than the diameter of thebolt. This block extends between the outer face of bracket 45 and a nut53 on bolt 50, such nut being screwed upon the bolt to a position wherethere is sufficient clearance between the nut and the adjacent end ofblock 52 to" permit the block to freely move vertically upon bolt 50.Nut 53 may be firmly held in this position by a lock nut 54. In

of the machine there is asy'stem of floating and equalizing levers forengaging these blocks and pressing them firmly upon the flanges of theframe. As shown in the illus trative embodiment of the invention thissystem of levers comprises a bar pivoted at its center to the lower endof rod 48 and pivotally connected at its outer end to the upper ends ofa pair of links 61, the lower ends of which engage pins 62 (Fig. 8). To

each in 62 is attached a pair of bars 63 provi ed at their ends withlaterally extending bearing pins 64 pivotally engaged by the upper endsof links 65. Each pair:

of bars '63 is also Provided intermediate of its ends with a pin 66 onwhich there is pivotally mounted an arm 67 of a lever which includesalso two other arms 68 and 69. -Arm 68 of this lever is provided with aset screw 7 0 adapted to bear upon the top of hearing block 52, and arm69 is pivotally connected at its lower end to an arm 71 of a lever whichalso includes two other arms 72 and 73. Arm 72 of this lever is providedwith a set screw 74 adapted to ear upon the lower face of bearing block55, and arm 73 is pivotally connected to the lower end of links 65. I Ina manner presently to be explained,

motive fluid is supplied to cylinder 46 to cause its contained piston 47to move to and remain in its uppermost position at all times during theoperation of the machine except when motor 10 is operating to moveengine cylinder 5 longitudinally on the frame. The weight of the systemof clampoperating levers normally causes the lower ends of set screws 70to bear upon blocks 52, but such bearing is not'sufiicient to preventfree sliding movement of these blocks upon the upper faces of theinturned flanges .of the frame side members. Upward movement of piston47 acts through bar 60,

links 61 and bars 63 to move links downupwardly so that their set screws74 bear upon the lower faces of bearing blocks 55. It will thus be seenthat the upward movement of piston 47 causes both pairs of bearingblocks 52, 55 to grip the upper and lower faces of the frame flanges andthereby hold the cylinder against longitudinal movement upon the frame.This clamping of the cylinder to the frame removes from the feed screwresistance to the impact of the drill rod and therefore greatly reduceswear upon the screw.

It will be understood from the foregoing explanation of the clampingmechanism that when-piston 47 is elevated by the pressure of fluidacting upon piston 47 the clamps engage the frame of the machine, andthat when pressiire fluid is exhausted from cylinder 46 containingpiston 47 the weight of the piston and rod and levers attached to itcauses the piston tovmove downwardly to release the clamps. It will alsobe under stood that the cylinder is clamped to the frame while theengine is stationary with relation to, or in other words, is not movingupon, the frame, and that the clamps are released while the cylinder ismoved longitudinally to advance or withdraw the drill rod. That thisoperation may be automatically effected, control of motive fluid throughpipe 49 leading to cylinder 46 is coordinated with the controller foroperating motor 10.

As seen in Fig. 10, at the rear of the ma chine pipe 49 is connected bya T fitting to a pipe 80 provided with two valves 81 and 82. Valve 81 isconnected to apipe 83 leading from a source of pressure fluid supply,and controls flow of pressure. fluid.

through a pipe.75 leading to cylinder 46, through pipes 76, 77,, 78 and49, pi e 78 beingtelescopically connected to pipe 7 for the purposeexplained with reference to pipes 20 and 21. .The outlet'of valve 81 isopen to atmosphere to permit exhaust 'fluid from cylinder 46 to escapethrough the pipe connections just explained. These two valves areprovided with operating stems84 and 85 adapted to be moved upwardly byelectromagnets or solenoids 86 and 87. respectively, the valvesbeingclosed by the downward movement of stems 84 and 85 due to their weightwhen the solenoids are deenergized.

In Fig. 10'there is diagrammatically represented a controller 90 forcontrolling flow of current to motor 10, and in Fig. 11 there is shown aplan view of the top of the controller and of its operatinghandle 91,the top'of the controller having contactors indicated on it forcontrolling thesupply of In the central position of controller handle 91shown in Fig. 11 the motor is idle and central contactor 92 closes acircuit through magnet 86 to energize it to open valve 81. Pressurefluid then flows from pipe 83 through valve 81, pipe 80, and pipe 75 andits connected pipes to cylinder 46 to cause the clamps to engage theframe. 1 When the indicating point" of handle 91 is turned to the leftand is opposite contactor 93 the circuit through magnet 86 is broken topermit valve 81 to become closed, and a circuit is closed throughmagnet, 87 to open valve 82 to permit exhaust pressure fluid to escapefrom cylinder 46. This permits .the clamps to become disengaged from theframe. Further movement of the indicating "point of opposite contactor96.

From this explanation of the construction and operation of valves81 and82 and of i I the controller for making and breaking circuits throughtheir operating solenoids and for supplying current to the motor, itwill be understood 'that the motor can not be operated to move enginecylinder 5 either forwardly or rearwardly Without first releasing theclamps, and also that when the motor is idle the clamps engage the frameand thereby lock the engine cylinder to it.

A further feature of the present invention has to do with means forlocking the machine in position for tapping a notch. Before a notch istapped it is seldom dangerous for workmen to be near it, but when thetapping has proceeded to apoint where molten metal is nearly reached, aswell as after it has been reached,'it is dangerous for a workman to benear the notch. To avoid the necessity of a workman at or near a machineto disengage it from its anchorage,

provision is made for doing this mechanically by apparatus controlled ata safe distance fromthe machine;

Having reference particularly to Flgs. 1, 2 and 3, a trough 100 leadingfrom a notch 101 in the bottom of a blast furnace 102 is These bracketsare clamped to the lower portions of the frame-side members by bolts107, which engage suitable slots 108 in the frame so that the clamps maybe suitably adjusted to the proper position for holding the machine inposition for tapping. The

upper end of each lever 105 is connected by a link 109'to a piston rod110 attached to a piston 111 in a fluid pressure cylinder 112 fastenedto the side of the machine. Piston 111 may be urged rearwardly by aspring 113 and forwardly by means'of pressure fluid supplied to cylinder112 through a pipe 114 connected to fluid pressure supply pipe 83. Whenthe machine isarranged in tapping position with'lugs 103 engaged betweenthe clamp brackets 104 and lever 105, pressure fluid is supplied throughpipes 114 to cause levers 105 to engage the lugs, and as long aspressure fluid is so supplied the machine is clamped. firmly in tappingposition. At the end of a tapping operation the supply of pressure fluidis shut off and its supply pipe thrown to exhaust so that springs 113 incylinders 112 cause piston 111 to move rearwardly to release levers 105.

As has been previously indicated, provision is made for controlling theoperation of, the machine at a safe distance from it so that a notch maybe completely-opened and At the outer end of boom 120 there is attachedfor vertical adjustment a bar 122 provided at its lower-end with aihook123 for engaging a'suspending member 124 at tach'ed to a bail 125pivotally connectedat its sides to the machine. The connection of ball12.5 to the machine is through bars 126 (Fig. 2) provided with a seriesof holes so that the machine may be, engaged at variouslongitudinal'positions to secure desired bal-" ance. For turning thecrane to remove the machine from tapping position, crane column 120 maybe provided with a drum 121' engaged at one end by a cable 128 attachedto a piston rod 129. This rod is attached to a a piston 130 in apressure-fluid cylinder 131, to the opposite ends of which pressurefluid may be admitted and exhausted through pipes 132 and 133. nected toa compound valve 134 attached at its inlet by a pipe 135 to a -motivefluid supply pipe- 136.

- Motive fluid, such as compressed air or steam, may be supplied to themachine from These pipes are conany suitable source. As shown in Fig.10, a

pump or'blower 140 is provided for supplymg compressed air to pipe 136,and also to a pipe 141 leading to flexible pipe 16 for supplyingcompressed air to engine cylinder 5,'

pipe 141 being provided with a valve 142 for controlling flow throughit. 134, pipe 136 is provided with a valve 143 for controlling flowthrough it to pipe 83, which, as previously explained, is the source ofmotive fluid supply for operating the mechanism for clamping the enginecylinder to the machine frame, and also for operatingthe mechanism foranchoring the forward end of the machine. vided with an outlet 144 forexhausting air from the anchoring mechanism cylinders at the completionof a tapping operation.

During the operation of the machine it is desirable for the operator toobserve the varied lengths of stroke of the drill rod so that thereciprocating engine may be roper- 1y advanced from time to time. F drthis The valve 143 is pro-.

Beyond valve vided with a stroke indicator comprisin a purpose, theoutside of the machine is prohand" 150 and a dial 151, the hand beingadapted to be swung in coordination with the stroke of the engine pistonto indicate the length of the stroke. The mechanism for operating thishand is indicated in the drawings as being the same as that disclosed inmy prior Patent No. 1,276,252, to which reference may be made for itsdetailed construction and operation.

A further feature ofthe invention has to do with the provision of meansfor'protecting the thread of feed screw13 against the dust, grit andsparks which prevail in the vicinity of a metallurgical furnaceparticularly during a tapping operation, the means to this end varying1n position as engine cylinder 5 is moved forwardly. For this purposethe portion of screw 13 to the rear of cylinder 5 is protected by a thinflexible metal curtain 160 (Figs. 2 and 3) attached at one end to asprin -actuated roller 161 mounted at the rear 0 the machine, and at itsother end to the rear of cylinder 5. The sides of curtain 160 ride ingrooves 162 at the edges of a transverse partition 163 arranged abovescrew 13 and provided with a central gap for the reception of cylinderarms 14.

ile a similar screw protector may be provided forwardly of the cylinder,it is preferred to use a rigid plate 164, the edges of which ride ingrooves 162 and the end of which is attached to the c linder. Ascylinder 5' is moved forwardly and rearwardly curtain 160 unrolls androlls so that it con tinuously closes the gapin partition 163 betweenthe cylinder and the rear of the machine, and plate 164 moves forwardlyand rearwzirdly to close such gap in front of the cylinder.

When the machine is used for tapping blast furnaces, it. ispreferred toprovide a machine for each furnace. When this is don the machine may beso adjusted with relation to its supports that each tapping operationwill be in the direct line of the iron notch 101 (Fig. 1) with theresult that the body of the furnace through which the notch extends willnot be weakened by perforating holes in different directions through it.For

so adjusting the machine, it is dplaced in position in front of afurnace, an

by adjusting bar 122* (Fig. 10) on the jib crane, the rear end of themachine is brought .to proper elevation. In eflecting this generaladjustment, lug-engaging clamps 104 (Figs. 1 and 2) at the forward endof the machine are adjusted in slots 108 so that they will properlyengage lugs 103 when the machine is at the proper inclination to bringthe drill rod 25 in direct alignment with the notch. While notoperating, the machine is normally supported in a horizontal position bythe jib crane through the bail 125 of the machine,

the attachment of the bail to the machine gine is moved. to its rearmostposition the machine will balance backwardly. To avoid its tippingbackwardly too far, the rear end of the machine may be attached to theupper end of bail 125 by a flexible cable or the like 152 (Fig. 1).

When it is desired to tap a notch, the crane is turned to move themachine to tapping position, and the operator, through controller 90,runs the reciprocating engine forwardly a suflicient amount to balancethe forward end of the machine downwardly so that clamps 104 engage lugs103. The operator then turns valve 143 (Fig. 10) to permit compressedair or other pressure fluid to flow through pipes 83 and 114 tocylinders 112 to cause the lower ends of lever 105 to press against lugs103 so that such lugs become firmly engaged between these levers andclamping brackets 104.; The operator then sets the reciprocating enginein operation by opening valve 142 to permit the flow of pressure fluidto engine cylinder 5. By observin indicator hand 150, the operator isable to udge the length of stroke of the drill, and as such lengthincreases he intermittently o erates controller 90 to advance theengine.

iile motor 10 is idle, controller operating lever 91 is at its centralposition (Fig. 11), in which a circuit is closed through electromagnet86 to cause valve 81 to be opened so that pressure fluid is suppliedthrough such valve and pipe 75 to the lower face of piston 47 incylinder 46. This moves the piston to its uppermost position and causesthe floating equalizing levers attached to the lower end of pistonv rod48 to bring clamping blocks 52 and 55 into firm engagement with theinturned flanges offrame side members 1 and 2. By so clamping the engineto the frame, the impact of drill rod 25 is directly resisted by theframe of the "machine rather than by feed screw 13.

its indicator arm moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 10, and duringsuch movement of the controller arm magnet 86 is first deenergized topermit valve 81 to close, and'magnet87 is energized to open valve,82 sothat pressure fluid is exhausted from the lower side ofclamp-controlling piston 47. This permits the levers attached to pistonrod 48 to release their. pressure upon clamping blocks 52 and 55, whichoperation is always efi'ected prior to the completion of a circuitthrough motor 10 for advancing the machine. Hence, when themotoris'operated the reciprocating engine cylinder is free to move upon theframe. As soon as the engine has been moved forwardly the requiredamount, the controller is against moved to neutral position, and whilebeing so moved the reverse operation of magnets 86 and 87 takes lacewith the result that the trame-- engaging clamps are again caused tolock the cylinder upon the frame. This opera tion is repeated until thenotch has been en tirely opened.

When the notch has been opened, that is to say when iron has beenreached, the operator moves controller handle 90 to the positionforreversing the motor so that it will move engine cylinder 5 rearwardly ofthe machine to Withdraw the drill rod. By causing the engine cylinder tomove to its rearmost position, the machine tends to tip backwardly.Valve 143 is then turned to permit the pressure'fiuid in cylinders 112to escape through exhaust outlet 1% of valve 14:3 (Fig. 1.0) andsimultaneously therewith springs 113 in cylinder 112 move piston rods110 inwardly to release the lower ends of levers 105 from their enga'ement with in s 103. The machine then be ances backwar ly on itssupport and is removed from the front of the furnace by operating valve134 to admit pressure fluid to the right end of cylinder 131 to causeits contained piston 3 130 to move to the left to revolve the jib craneon its vertical column 120. The ma chinethen stands idle untilits use isre quired for again tapping a notch, and while it is idle a new drillrod 2 may be attached furnaces, the combination of a frame, areciprocatory engine mounted for longitudinal movement thereon, meansfor moving said engine on said frame, and means coordinated with saidengine moving means and eflective while the engine is stationary uponthe frame for clamping the engine to the frame whereby impact of theengine is resisted by the frame.

2. ln a machine for tapping metallurgi cal furnaces, the combination ofa frame, a reciprocatow fluid pressure engine mounted "for longitudinalmovement thereon and comprising a cylinder and a piston rod having atapping tool attached to it, means for moving said engine longitudinallyupon said frame, and means effective when said cylinder is stationaryupon said frame for clamping the cylinder to said frame to resist impactof the tapping tool.

neonate ing mechanism attached to said cylinder for engaging said frameto resist impact of said tapping tool.

4:. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination ofa frame, a reciprocatory fluid pressure engine mounted for longitudinalmovement thereon and comprising a cylinder and a iston rod having atapping tool, attache to it, a feed screw rotatably mounted in saidframe and engaging said cylinder for moving it upon the frame, a motorhaving driving connections with said screw for rotating it, and meansattached to said cylinder for engaging said frame to resist impact ofsaid tapping tool, said means being rendered inef fective during theoperation of said motor.

5. A machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination of aframe, a reciprocatory engine mounted for longitudinal movement thereon,a tapping tool connected to said engine for reciprocation thereby, amotor for moving said engine longitudinally upon said frame, acontroller for said motor, and mechanically actuated means controlled bysaid-controller for lockin said engine to said frame,said means beingineffective during the operation of said motor for moving said engineupon the frame.

. 6. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination ofa frame, a re ciprocatory engine mounted for longitudi-' nal movementthereon and providedwith a tapping tool adapted to be reciprocated bythe engine, a motor for moving said engine upon said frame, clampsattached to said engine for engagement of said frame, a fiuid preissurecylinder attached to said engine, an ing trom said fluid pressuremechanism to said clamps for binding them upon. the frame.

7. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination of aframe, a reciprocatory fluid pressure engine mount ed for longitudinalmovement thereon comprising a cylinder and a piston rod, a tappingtoolattached to said rod, a feed screw rotatably mounted in said frame andoperatively connected to said cylinder for moving it longitudinally uponthe frame, a motor for rotating said screw, clamping bars attached tosaid cylinder in position forengaging said frame, a fluid pressuremechanism attached to said cylinder, and pressure equalizing leversextending from fluid presressure equalizing connections extend- L mamasgical furnace, the combination of a frame, a

reciprocatory engine mounted for longitudinal movement thereon andhaving a tapping tool attached to it, a motor operatively connected tosaid engine for moving it longitudinally upon said frame, pressure fluidoperated mechanismattached to said engine for clamping it to said frame,electrically operated valves for controlling flow of pressure fluid toand from said mechanism and means coordinated with the operation of saidmotor for controllin said valves to supply pressure fluid to saimechanism when said motor is idle and from said mechanism prior to theoperation of the motor.

9. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination of aframe, a reciprocatoryengine mounted for longitudinal movement upon saidframe, anchor-en gaging clamps attached to said frame for holding themachine in proper tapping position, and mechanically operated mechanismfor controlling said anchor-engaging means.

10. In a machine for tapping metallun' gical furnaces, the combinationwith a frame and a reciprocatory tapping engine mounted for longitudinalmovement thereon; of clamps attached to said frame for engagingmachine-anchoring members, and prime movers attached to said clamps foroperat ing them, the operation of said prime movers being controllableat a distance from said machine.

11. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combinationwith a frame, and areciprocatory tapping engine mounted for longitudinalmovement thereon; of clamps including pivoted levers attached to saidframe for connecting said machine to anchoring members, and fluidpressure mechanism for movin said levers- 12. In a machine for tappingmetallur- 'gical furnaces, the combination with a frame and a'reciprocatory tapping engme mounted for longitudinal movement thereon;of

clamps including pivoted levers attached to said frame for connectingthe machineto anchoring members, fluid pressure cylinders attached tosaid levers for moving them in one direction, and springs for movingsaid levers in the opposite direction.

13. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination ofa frame, a reciprocatory engine mounted for longitudinal movementthereon and comprising a cylinder and a piston, a cross head attached tosaid piston and mounted for longitudinal I on said cross head andprovided with a pawl for engaging said ratchet, and a link extendingbetween said arm and .said cyliner whereby the reciprocation of saidcross head rotates the spindle.

1a. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination ofa frame, a reciprocatory engine comprising a cylinder a piston rod and,a cross head attached to the rod, means for attaching a tapping tool tosaid cross head, said cylinder and cross head being provided withrollers resting upon said frame for free longitudinal movement of thecylinder and cross head upon the frame, and a motor for moving saidcylinder upon said frame.

15. In a machine for tapping blast furnaces, the combination of a frame,a reciprocating engine mounted for longitudinal movements on said frameand provided with a tapping tool, anchor-engaging clamps attached to theforward end of said frame for holding the machine ,in tapping position,mechanically operated mechanism for con trollin said anchor-engagingmeans, and a yoke pivotally attached to said frame intermediate of itsends for supporting the machine, the rearward end of the machinebalancing downwardly when said engine is at its rearmost position onsaid frame and balancing upwardly when said engine is moved forwardlywhereby said clamps may -be moved from and to anchor-engaging posi-=tion.

1-6. In a machine for tapping metallurgical furnaces, the combination ofa frame, a tapping engine, a cylinder mounted for longitudinal movementon the frame, a feed screw rotatably mounted in said frame below saidcylinder for moving the cylinder upon closures attached to the ends ofsaid cylinder and movable therewith to close said partition gap. o

In testimony whereof, I si my name.

BENJAMIN J. LLEN.

